Sisodia dynasty

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The Sisodia was an Indian royal dynasty belonging to the clan that ruled over the Kingdom of Mewar, in the region of Mewar in Rajasthan. [1] The name of the clan is also transliterated as Sesodia, Shishodia, Sishodia, Shishodya, Sisodya, Sisodiya, Sisodia.

Contents

Origins

The Sisodia dynasty traced its ancestry to Rahapa, a son of the 12th century Guhila King Ranasimha. He founded the village of Shisoda, in modern day Rajsamand district, as his capital, after which his descendants were called Sisodias. The main branch of the Guhila dynasty ended with their defeat against the Khalji dynasty at the Siege of Chittorgarh (1303). In 1326, Rana Hammir, who belonged to Sisodiya branch, reclaimed control of the region with the help of Baruji Sauda and his Charan allies, re-established the dynasty, and also became the founder of the Sisodia dynasty clan, a branch of the Guhila dynasty, to which every succeeding Maharana of Mewar belonged, and the Sisodias regained control of Chittor, the former Guhila capital. [2] [3] [4] The Sisodiyas were engaged in multiple battles against Sultans of Malwa, Nagor, Gujarat and Delhi. [5] They were a significant reason in weakening of the adjacent sultanates including the Delhi Sultanate. [6]

According to the Rajprashasti genealogy, one of these – Rana Samar – married Prithi, the sister of Prithviraj Chauhan. His grandson Rahapa adopted the title Rana (monarch). Rahapa's descendants spent some time at a place called Sisoda, and therefore, came to be known as "Sisodia". [7] [8]

The Sisodia coat of arms after Udaipur city was built Coat of arms of Udaipur State.png
The Sisodia coat of arms after Udaipur city was built

History

The most notable Sisodia rulers were Rana Hamir (r. 1326–64), Rana Kumbha (r. 1433–68), Rana Sanga (r.1508–1528) and Rana Pratap (r. 1572–97). The Bhonsle clan, to which the Maratha empire's founder Shivaji belonged, also claimed descent from a branch of the royal Sisodia family. [9] Nainsi in his book mentioned Shahji descended from Chacha, son of Rana Lakha. [10] Similarly, Rana dynasty of Nepal also claimed descent from Ranas of Mewar. [11]

According to the Sisodia Chronicles, when the Delhi Sultan Alauddin Khalji attacked Chittorgarh in 1303, the Sisodia men performed Saka (fighting to the death), while their women committed Jauhar (self-immolation in preference to becoming enemy captives). This was repeated twice: when Bahadur Shah of Gujarat besieged Chittorgarh in 1535, and when the Mughal emperor Akbar conquered it in 1567. [12]

Frequent skirmishes with the Mughals greatly reduced the Sisodia power and the size of their kingdom. The Sisodias ultimately accepted the Mughal suzerainty, and some even fought in the Mughal army. However, the art and literary works commissioned by the subsequent Sisodia rulers emphasized their pre-Mughal past. [12] The Sisodias were the last Rajput dynasty to ally with the Mughals, and unlike other Rajput clans, never intermarried with the Mughal imperial family. [13] The Sisodias cultivated an elite identity distinct from other Rajput clans through the poetic legends, eulogies and visual arts commissioned by them. James Tod, an officer of the British East India Company, relied on these works for his book Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan, or the central and western Rajpoot states of India (1829–1832). His widely read work further helped spread the views of the Sisodias as a superior Rajput clan in colonial and post-colonial India. [12] [14]

Princely States

List of Rulers

Titular Maharanas

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rana Sanga</span> Maharana of Mewar from 1509–1528

Sangram Singh I, commonly known as Rana Sanga, was the Rana of Mewar from 1508 to 1528 CE. A member of the Sisodia dynasty, he controlled parts of present-day Rajasthan, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh with his capital at Chittor. His reign was admired by several of his contemporaries, including the first Mughal Emperor Babur, who described him as the "greatest Indian ruler" of that time. The Mughal historian Abd al-Qadir Badayuni called Sanga the bravest of all Rajputs along with Prithviraj Chauhan also known as Rai Pithaura.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maharana Pratap</span> Rajput ruler of Mewar from 1572–1597

Pratap Singh I, popularly known as Maharana Pratap, was king of the Kingdom of Mewar, in north-western India in the present-day state of Rajasthan, from 1572 until his death in 1597. He is notable for leading the Rajput resistance against the expansionist policy of the Mughal Emperor Akbar including the Battle of Haldighati and the Battle of Dewair.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chittorgarh</span> City in Rajasthan, India

Chittorgarh is a major city in the state of Rajasthan in western India. It lies on the Berach River, a tributary of the Banas, and is the administrative headquarters of Chittorgarh District. It was a major stronghold of the Rajput State of Medapata. The city of Chittorgarh is located on the banks of river Gambhiri and Berach.

Maharana Hammir Singh (1302–1364), or Hammir, was a 14th-century ruler of Mewar in present-day Rajasthan, India. Hammir Singh, was a scion of the cadet branch Rana of the Guhila dynasty, who regained control of the region, re-established the dynasty after defeating the Tughlaq dynasty, and captured present-day Rajasthan from Muslim forces of Delhi and became the first of the 'Rana' branch to become the King of Mewar with title of Maharana. Hammir also became the progenitor of the Sisodia clan, a branch of the Guhila dynasty, to which every succeeding Maharana of Mewar has belonged.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chittor Fort</span> Historic fort in Rajasthan, India

Chittorgarh, also known as Chittod Fort, is one of the largest forts in India. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The fort was the capital of Mewar and is located in the present-day city of Chittorgarh. It sprawls over a hill 180 m (590.6 ft) in height spread over an area of 280 ha above the plains of the valley drained by the Berach River. The fort covers 65 historic structures, which include four palaces, 19 large temples, 20 large water bodies, 4 memorials and a few victory towers.

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The battle of Haldighati was fought on 18 June 1576 between the Mewar forces led by Maharana Pratap, and the Mughal forces led by Man Singh I of Amber. The Mughals emerged victorious after inflicting significant casualties on Mewari forces, though they failed to capture Pratap, who reluctantly retreated persuaded by his fellow commanders.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of Rajasthan</span> Brief history of the Indian state of Rajasthan

The history of human settlement in the western Indian state of Rajasthan dates back to about 100,000 years ago. Around 5000 to 2000 BCE many regions of Rajasthan belonged as the site of the Indus Valley Civilization. Kalibangan is the main Indus site of Rajasthan, here fire altars have been discovered, similar to those found at Lothal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kingdom of Mewar</span> Former kingdom in the Indian subcontinent

The Kingdom of Mewar was an independent kingdom that existed in the Rajputana region of the Indian subcontinent and later became a major power in medieval India. The kingdom was initially founded and ruled by the Guhila dynasty followed by the Sisodiya Dynasty. The kingdom came to be known as the Udaipur State after it became a princely state in the nineteenth century.

Bhainsrorgarh Fort or Bhainsror Fort is an ancient fort that has become a major tourist spot in the state of Rajasthan, India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rani Karnavati</span> Regent of Bundi from 1527–1533

Rani Karnavati, also known as Rani Karmavati, was a princess and temporary ruler from Bundi, India. She was married to Rana Sanga of Mewar. She was the mother of the next two Ranas, Rana Vikramaditya and Rana Udai Singh, and grandmother of Maharana Pratap. She served as regent during the minority of her son, from 1527 until 1533. She was as fierce as her husband and defended Chittor with a small contingent of soldiers until it inevitably fell to the Gujarat army which was led by Bahadur Shah of Gujarat. She refused to flee and performed johari to protect her honor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dungarpur state</span> Historical state

Dungarpur State was a princely state during the British Raj. Its capital was the city of Dungarpur in the southernmost area of present-day Rajasthan State in India. In 1901 the total population of Dungarpur State was 100,103, while that of the town was 6,094.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mughal–Rajput wars</span> 1526–1779 conflicts in India

The Mughal–Rajput wars were a series of battles between the Rajput Confederacy and the Mughal Empire. The conflicts originated with the invasion of northwestern India by the Mughal ruler Babur, to which the head of the Rajput confederacy, Rana Sanga, offered staunch resistance. The conflicts went on since 1526 for over 200 years, with the Mughals having the upper hand until the death of Aurangzeb in 1707, following which they entered a declining phase and the Rajputs gained the upper hand, with the last recorded conflict taking place in 1779.

The history of human settlement in the west Indian state of Rajasthan dates back to about 5,000 years ago.

The Guhilas of Medapata colloquially known as Guhilas of Mewar were a Rajput dynasty that ruled the Kingdom of Mewar region in present-day Rajasthan state of India. The Guhila kings initially ruled as Gurjara-Pratihara feudatories between the end of 8th and 9th centuries and later were independent in period of the early 10th century and allied themselves with the Rashtrakutas. Their capitals included Nagahrada (Nagda) and Aghata (Ahar). For this reason, they are also known as the Nagda-Ahar branch of the Guhilas.

Shakti Singh Sisodia Mewar was the son of Maharana Udai Singh II Sisodia and Rani Sajja Bai Solanki. He was a Kshatriya Rajput and was younger brother of famous Maharana Pratap, He was also the eponymous founder of the Shaktawat clan of Sisodia Rajputs.

Sauda is a clan of the Charanas. They are also known as Sauda-Barhath. Sauda Charans came to prominence in the kingdom of Mewar with the establishment of Sisodia dynasty in 1326.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mewar–Malwa conflicts</span> Military conflict between the Kingdoms of Mewar and Malwa

The Mewar–Malwa conflicts were a series of wars between the Kingdom of Mewar and the Sultanate of Malwa. The conflict erupted due to mutual territorial expansion triggered by both sides on each other. The war was fought in the modern-day regions of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. The Rana branch of the Guhilas, following their successful recovery of the Rajput stronghold of Chittorgarh and the entire region of Mewar alongside Rajputana after the Battle of Singoli, embarked on an ambitious expansion at the cost of their neighbouring kingdoms. On the other side, with the invasion of Timur, the Delhi Sultanate grew weak and many of its provinces gained independence which included Malwa, adjacent to Mewar.

The Kingdom of Mewar - Delhi Sultanate Conflict was a series of military engagements between the Kingdom of Mewar under the Sisodiya dynasty and the Delhi Sultanate from the regime of Tuqhlaq Dynasty to the succeeding ones. The conflict erupted when the Sisodiya dynasty took the reigon of Mewar from Delhi Sultanate's rule. The conflict was fought in what is today the Indian states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.

References

  1. ↑ Schwartzberg, Joseph E. (1978). A Historical atlas of South Asia. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. p. 147, map XIV.4 (e). ISBN   0226742210. Archived from the original on 25 February 2021. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
  2. ↑ Rima Hooja (2006). A history of Rajasthan. Rupa. pp. 328–329. ISBN   9788129108906. OCLC   80362053. Archived from the original on 4 April 2023. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
  3. ↑ The Rajputs of Rajputana: a glimpse of medieval Rajasthan by M. S. Naravane ISBN   81-7648-118-1
  4. ↑ Manoshi, Bhattacharya (12 August 2023). The Royal Rajputs. Rupa & Company. pp. 42–46. ISBN   9788129114013.
  5. ↑ "History of Medieval India by Satish Chandra book pdf download" . Retrieved 15 February 2024.
  6. ↑ Richards, John F. (1 January 1965). "The Economic History of the Lodi Period: 1451-1526". Journal of the Economic and Social History of the Orient. 8 (1): 47–67. doi:10.1163/156852065X00020. ISSN   1568-5209.
  7. ↑ Sri Ram Sharma (1971). Maharana Raj Singh and His Times. Motilal Banarsidass. pp. 2–12. ISBN   9788120823983. Archived from the original on 17 August 2023. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  8. ↑ Wessly Lukose (2013). Contextual Missiology of the Spirit: Pentecostalism in Rajasthan, India. Wipf & Stock Publishers. p. 50. ISBN   978-1-62032-894-1. Archived from the original on 17 August 2023. Retrieved 20 January 2019.
  9. ↑ Singh K S (1998). India's communities. Oxford University Press. p. 2211. ISBN   978-0-19-563354-2. Archived from the original on 3 July 2023. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
  10. ↑ Rajasthan Oriental Research Institute, 1960, Muhnot Nainsi Ri Khyat, Part 1, page 15
  11. ↑ "Greater Game: India's Race with Destiny and China by David Van Praagh". Archived from the original on 7 April 2023. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
  12. 1 2 3 Melia Belli Bose (2015). Royal Umbrellas of Stone. Brill. pp. 248–251. ISBN   9789004300569. Archived from the original on 17 August 2023. Retrieved 5 January 2016.
  13. ↑ Melia Belli Bose (2015). Royal Umbrellas of Stone. Brill. p. 37. ISBN   9789004300569. Archived from the original on 17 August 2023. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
  14. ↑ Freitag, Jason (2009). Serving empire, serving nation: James Tod and the Rajputs of Rajasthan. Leiden: Brill. pp. 3–5, 49. ISBN   978-90-04-17594-5. Archived from the original on 17 August 2023. Retrieved 27 July 2011.
  15. ↑ "Maharana Sanga; the Hindupat, the last great leader of the Rajput race: Sarda, Har Bilas, Diwan Bahadur, 1867–1955 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming". Internet Archive. Retrieved 16 August 2020.

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